by Solange Lopes | May 23, 2014 | Career
Customer service – blackenterprise.com
Happy Friday! TGIF, especially Friday right before a long week-end…
As a corporate sister, accountant and auditor, I’ve had the pleasure to study and work with a number of corporate agents who’ve all taught me a thing or two about success at work. And while most would think that the greatest work insights may be gained from the corporate leadership and management, I’ve actually learnt some of my most valuable lessons about work and success from the unsung, invisible heroes of Big Corporate.
Like Naila P. Naila is a lead customer service agent for a leading Fortune 500 company. She’s an ambitious, striving corporate sister who takes her job seriously, and believes in her company’s mission. As I watched Naila perform her job, handling call after call from disgruntled, more or less disgruntled and straight-up “out there” customers, I learnt more about success than when listening to many a CEO’s speech:
1. It’s all about SERVICE!What can I do for you? How can I assist you today? Thank you for calling, I’d love to help you with this! There’s a reason why Naila’s job is called “customer service”. And maybe if more of our job responsibilities included the word “service”, we could have a serious shot at being successful. The answer to most questions at work is really about what you can do to help others and the Company at large. What can you do for your manager? What can you do to improve the quality of your department’s work? What can you do to be of service? If you want to be successful, ask yourself these questions.
2. Always, always provide solutions, not problems! One of the things I noticed about Naila was her readiness to offer solutions to the customers calling in. Can I update your information to resolve the mismatch in database information? May I direct you to our Consumer Support group to address this issue? When faced with problems, rather than re-presenting the problem in a different way, offer solutions!And never underestimate the power of following up to ensure that your customer, manager or business contact is satisfied!
3. Attitude is Everything! I have to admit, I have been that disgruntled customer calling in to complain about a defective product or system. Yet it’s not until I was on the other side of the line, watching Naila respond to horrible comments with the most positive attitude that I realized that yes, attitude really is everything! In your career, you will probably face more downs than ups, and will be tempted to gamble your luck or respond inappropriately. Yet we often fail to realize that a positive attitude is the precursor to success!
So to all those who strive in the shadows of Big Corporate, thank you! And to you Naila, you are on your way girl!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 22, 2014 | Career
Halogen Brooklyn Stripe Suit – nordstrom.com
For our lunch break fashion interlude today, we’ve picked this “Brooklyn stripe” peplum front suit Halogen suit from Nordstrom (psstt…as we mentioned yesterday, Nordstrom is having its half-yearly sale, which kicked off yesterday with 40% off for women and kids).
Loving the unconventional kick of this otherwise conventional work suit! The pinstripes give us a touch of menswear, while the shawl-collar suit jacket and peplum front jacket compensate with a definite feminine kick! I would pair this suit with a simple, easy tee, as shown on the picture, and would let the original design speak for itself!
And at $76.80 for the jacket and $52.80 for the pants, you just can’t go wrong! So if you’re looking for an original, stylish yet work appropriate suit, this is it…
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com, or post a comment below!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 22, 2014 | Career
financialjuneteenth.com
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. This saying couldn’t be truer in our careers. As we, corporate sisters, often complain about the lack of, or sheer unattainability, of career opportunities, we also have to do some level of introspective work by asking ourselves how ready we’d be for these opportunities.
In Big Corporate, much of our learning is achieved by stepping outside of our comfort zone. And that is most often done by taking advantage of, or even better, creating opportunities for growth and development.
Last year, Aisha S., a talented auditor and internal controls guru, identified an amazing opportunity in her department for an internal controls group that would address the growing PCAOB and SEC requirements for public companies. As she shared the idea with her manager, he quickly recognized the validity of her proposition and proceeded to float the idea upstream to upper management. Yet although Aisha was a top candidate for the position, she was not a Certified Public Accountant. Long story short, the opportunity went to someone else, because Aisha was not prepared for it. Cliche? Yes. Unfortunate. Absolutely. Preventable. Certainly.
As you pursue new opportunities, or envision yourself creating or taking hold of upcoming ones to further your career, also consider how ready you are for these. Do you have the right degree or certification? Do you have any experience or familiarity with the field itself? If you were asked what makes you the perfect candidate for the job, would you be able to cite at least three major reasons?
Have you asked yourself if you are ready for the next opportunity?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2014 | Career
Lace and ponte top – $198 – nordstrom.com
For our (very late) lunch break fashion interlude today, we can’t emphasize enough the charm (and great use) of an elegant yet simple top for work. For the days where your crisp button-downs or elegant sheaths dresses just won’t do, this lace and ponte top from Nordstrom (pssst…it’s had-yearly sales time at Nordstrom, starting with 40% off for women and kids!) will!
I’m loving the delicate detail of the floral cotton lace overlay on this otherwise simple ponte-knit top. This easy top combines great elegance with a comfortable fit, and will do wonders paired with just about anything in your wardrobe, from a polished pencil skirt, straight slacks, to your favorite pair of jeans on the week-end.
I would keep the jewelry simple to allow the lace detail shine, and would complement this top with subtle drop earrings.
It’s on sale for $198 at nordstrom.com. And don’t forget to check out the rest of Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale….
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com, or comment below!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2014 | Career
Black-woman-at-work- madamenoire.com
Happy Wednesday!
We’ve heard a ton about corporate feminism lately. In between piercing the glass ceiling, empowering women, reducing the gender pay gap, not to mention coming to terms with Jill Abramson’s alleged New York Times ousting and the end of the Barbara Walters’ era, we’ve had much to chew on…And we’re still chewing…
Yet when it comes to corporate feminism/activism/however you may want to call it, what we have seen most of lately, is what I would call a big “look up”movement. As protagonists (or mere spectators) of the “Corporate Gender Evolutionism” theory (please excuse the growing sarcasm, it’s still early here), we’ve all had the pleasure to look up to great symbols of feminine corporate success. Like the Arianna Huffington’s, Lean In’s Sheryl Sanders, not to mention the hugely influential Oprahs of this world…
Yet, as the rest of the corporate sisters like myself and so many others are straining our underpaid necks in sheer admiration, looking up at these great yet oh so scarce symbols of corporate success, many (if not most) of us are still left wondering about our own corporate fates. After the fanfare of all the inspiring women’s conferences, after all the alleged goodwill of all the corporate sponsors in attendance, what’s the follow-up on all the good initiatives, words of advice and inspirational speeches? And please, please, how about making the membership to women’s leadership association (some of us may not be able to sacrifice our daycare budget just yet)?
How about proactively working to change the tone at the top, not just in terms of corporate sponsorships and endorsements, but of formal commitment of corporate leaders to look into and resolve the issues affecting women at work? How about creating steering committees not just composed of the leadership and successful women, but also of everyday, ordinary women facing everyday, seemingly ordinary challenges that are preventing them from rising to their potential? How about concretely discussing child care opportunities (or the lack thereof), birth control options? While these are certainly not novelty ideas or concepts, they are still sorely lacking from the corporate landscape, and sorely lacking from the corporate experience of the main actors of this game, us!
How about reaching down to the nitty-gritty, the unglamorous, the ordinary reality of women at work? Maybe, only maybe, it’s time to turn the projectors down towards the reality of the corporate trenches for many women, including and especially minority women, to address the real issues that are plaguing us and keeping us from success…
Maybe?
The Corporate Sister.
